Three general types of valves exist in the power, oil and gas, mining and specialized industries. They include:

Severe service: the premium options with the highest margins. Designed to last and give the lowest cost of operation over an extended period of time. Often have higher initial costs but longest service life. Able to thrive in the harshest of conditions.

General purpose: quality options for applications that are not severe. Reputable brands that we know and trust to provide better than average performance. Lower front end cost.

Commodity: lower quality options with limited margins. Unable to perform for reasonable time period in average conditions. Supplier needs to be set up from an operational standpoint to sell these and be profitable. Avoid if possible unless it provides stepping stone to GPV and SSV sales.

Severe service isolation valves – what are they? While no clear, industry-agreed up definition is currently available, severe service isolation valves are used in applications where:

A downstream or atmospheric release of process will negatively affect the process, plant and human safety, environment or income stream of the facility

Required valve performance must be available on demand over a defined minimum time period

When should you choose a severe service valve? The application dictates the valve!

Focus on providing both SSVs and high quality GPVs

Consider selling commodity valves only when it can when it can lead to GPV, SSV or automation opportunities.

Differentiate ourselves by being experts in severe service valves and applications